At a Glance
- A shooting occurred on North Evergreen Avenue at around 3:30 p.m.
- Evergreen Avenue School in Woodbury, New Jersey, was placed in lockdown
- After-school activities were still happening when the lockdown began
- The suspect may have run through the school’s parking lot
- No active shooter was inside the building
- All students have been dismissed and there is no public threat
A Woodbury, New Jersey, elementary school went into lockdown Wednesday afternoon after gunfire erupted on a nearby street, sending after-school clubs into emergency mode and prompting a heavy police response.
The incident unfolded shortly after classes ended at Evergreen Avenue School. According to authorities, shots rang out on North Evergreen Avenue between Cooper Street and Red Bank Avenue, a corridor that borders the school campus.
Timeline of Events
- 3:30 p.m. – Shooting reported on North Evergreen Avenue
- Moments later – School automatically locked down as a precaution
- After dismissal – Students in clubs and activities sheltered in place
- Later – Police cleared the area and dismissed remaining students
Although the school day had officially finished, dozens of children were still inside participating in extracurricular programs when the lockdown was initiated. Staff members quickly secured doors and moved students to designated safe areas, following district-wide safety protocols.
Parents received a notification explaining that the suspect may have cut through the school’s parking lot while fleeing the scene, prompting the heightened security measure. The message, shared with News Of Philadelphia, emphasized that no shooting occurred inside the building and that students were never directly exposed to the violence.
Law enforcement established a perimeter, canvassed the neighborhood, and reviewed surveillance footage in an effort to locate the shooter. Officers went classroom-to-classroom to clear the building before allowing controlled dismissal.
Community Reaction
Local residents reported hearing multiple gunshots followed by sirens. Within minutes, text alerts circulated among parents, many of whom raced to the school only to be directed to a reunification point several blocks away.
“It was nerve-racking,” one parent told News Of Philadelphia. “You see the police cars and you just want your kid in your arms.”
By early evening, authorities confirmed that the remaining students had been safely picked up and that normal neighborhood activity could resume. Investigators continue to canvass the area for witnesses and video evidence.
Key Takeaways
- The shooting happened off-campus, but proximity triggered lockdown
- After-school activities continued the lockdown protocol
- No injuries reported inside the school
- Police believe the suspect used the parking lot as an escape route
- Community members praised the quick coordination between school staff and first responders
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Woodbury Police Department.
